1.Identification and Biological Characterization of Pathogen and Screening of Effective Fungicides for Wilt of Tetradium ruticarpum
Yuxin LIU ; Qin XU ; Yue YUAN ; Tiantian GUO ; Zheng'en XIAO ; Shaotian ZHANG ; Ming LIU ; Fuqiang YIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):198-206
ObjectiveTo identify the pathogen species responsible for the wilt disease of Tetradium ruticarpum in Chongqing, investigate there biological characteristics, and screen effective fungicides, so as to provide a theoretical basis for disease control in production. MethodsThe pathogen was isolated via the tissue culture method. Pathogenicity was verified according to Koch's postulates. The pathogen was identified based on morphological characteristics and multi-gene phylogenetic analysis. The mycelial growth rate method was used for biological characterization of the pathogen and fungicide screening. ResultsThe pathogen colonies were nearly circular with irregular edges, white, short, velvety aerial hyphae, and pale purple undersides. Macroconidia were colorless, sickle-shaped, with 3-5 septa, while microconidia were transparent, elliptical, aseptate or with 1-2 septa. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis showed that the pathogen clustered in the same clade as Fusarium fujikuroi with 100% support, which, combined with morphological characteristics, identified the pathogen causing wilt of T. ruticarpum in Chongqing as F. fujikuroi. The optimal conditions for the mycelial growth of F. fujikuroi were mung bean agar (MBA) with glucose as the carbon source, beef extract and yeast powder as nitrogen sources, 28 ℃, pH 7.0, and alternating light/dark conditions. The optimal conditions for sporulation were potato dextrose agar (PDA) with glucose as the carbon source, beef extract as the nitrogen source, 28 ℃, pH 7.0, and complete darkness. Among chemical fungicides, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on F. fujikuroi. Shenqinmycin and tetramycin were the most effective bio-fungicides. ConclusionThis study is the first to report F. fujikuroi as the causal agent of wilt disease in T. rutaecarpa. The chemical fungicide phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and the bio-fungicides shenqinmycin and tetramycin showed strong inhibitory effects against F. fujikuroi.
2.Allogeneic lung transplantation in miniature pigs and postoperative monitoring
Yaobo ZHAO ; Ullah SALMAN ; Kaiyan BAO ; Hua KUI ; Taiyun WEI ; Hongfang ZHAO ; Xiaoting TAO ; Xinzhong NING ; Yong LIU ; Guimei ZHANG ; He XIAO ; Jiaoxiang WANG ; Chang YANG ; Feiyan ZHU ; Kaixiang XU ; Kun QIAO ; Hongjiang WEI
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(1):95-105
Objective To explore the feasibility and reference value of allogeneic lung transplantation and postoperative monitoring in miniature pigs for lung transplantation research. Methods Two miniature pigs (R1 and R2) underwent left lung allogeneic transplantation. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity tests and blood cross-matching were performed before surgery. The main operative times and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) after opening the pulmonary artery were recorded during surgery. Postoperatively, routine blood tests, biochemical blood indicators and inflammatory factors were detected, and pathological examinations of multiple organs were conducted. Results The complement-dependent cytotoxicity test showed that the survival rate of lymphocytes between donors and recipients was 42.5%-47.3%, and no agglutination reaction occurred in the cross-matching. The first warm ischemia times of D1 and D2 were 17 min and 10 min, respectively, and the cold ischemia times were 246 min and 216 min, respectively. Ultimately, R1 and R2 survived for 1.5 h and 104 h, respectively. Postoperatively, in R1, albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) decreased, and alanine aminotransferase increased; in R2, ALB, GLB and aspartate aminotransferase all increased. Urea nitrogen and serum creatinine increased in both recipients. Pathological results showed that in R1, the transplanted lung had partial consolidation with inflammatory cell infiltration, and multiple organs were congested and damaged. In R2, the transplanted lung had severe necrosis with fibrosis, and multiple organs had mild to moderate damage. The expression levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 increased in the transplanted lungs. Conclusions The allogeneic lung transplantation model in miniature pigs may systematically evaluate immunological compatibility, intraoperative function and postoperative organ damage. The data obtained may provide technical references for subsequent lung transplantation research.
3.Application of radiology in acute-on-chronic liver failure
Han XIAO ; Yuhang YUAN ; Weiling XU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):222-227
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome of multiple organ failure on the basis of underlying chronic liver disease and has an extremely high short-term mortality rate, while there is still a lack of unified diagnostic criteria around the world. Radiology plays an important role in the evaluation and prognostic prediction of ACLF, constituting a multi-dimensional assessment system covering morphology, function, and hemodynamics. Computed tomography can be used for the measurement of liver volume and the diagnosis of sarcopenia by providing key morphological and nutritional parameters. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI, enables quantitative assessment of liver function and has critical significance for predicting short-term survival rate. Ultrasonography and elastography techniques facilitate the early warning of ACLF onset and the dynamic monitoring of its progression through noninvasive measurement of liver stiffness and hemodynamic parameters. This article systematically reviews the pivotal role of these three imaging modalities in the diagnosis and monitoring of ACLF, and integrating the strengths of multiple imaging techniques with clinical indicators to construct diagnostic and prognostic models may become a key future direction for achieving early intervention and improving clinical outcomes in ACLF.
4.Correlation analysis of inflammatory markers (NLR/PLR/SII) with the severity of intrauterine adhesions
Ying WANG ; Xuan XU ; Longyu ZHANG ; Rong WU ; Jingjing HU ; Wenjuan YANG ; Xiao WU ; Zhaolian WEI
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(1):146-150
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and the severity of intrauterine adhesions (IUA). MethodsThe retrospective study included 380 patients who underwent transcervical resection of adhesions (TCRA) from December 2019 to March 2025. Based on the American Fertility Society (AFS) classification, patients were divided into mild (n=61), moderate (n=225), and severe (n=94) groups. NLR, PLR, and SII were calculated from preoperative blood tests. Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis test and ordinal Logistic regression. ResultsNLR, PLR, and SII were significantly higher in the severe IUA group compared to the mild group (P<0.05), with SII showing the strongest predictive ability (OR=1.004, P=0.001). The number of intrauterine procedures was an independent risk factor (OR=1.27/level, P=0.016). The predictive model [Logit(P)=-0.676+0.241×operation times+0.004×SII] effectively identified severe IUA cases. ConclusionInflammatory markers (particularly SII) are correlated with IUA severity and may serve as non-invasive tools for clinical assessment.
5.Mechanism of action of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction against atherosclerosis based on macrophage polarization
Huaping ZHONG ; Qicheng ZHU ; Zhengwei ZOU ; Zhengyi HE ; Heping XIE ; Xu CHEN ; Zhisheng DUAN ; Tian XIAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):438-443
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of action of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction against atherosclerosis (AS)based on macrophage polarization. METHODS Using atorvastatin served as the positive control, the drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction was prepared to treat RAW264.7 macrophages. Macrophage viability, apoptosis rate, and the fluorescence intensities of CD86 and CD206 were measured, along with the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Apolipoprotei n E-deficient (ApoE -/- ) mice (AS model mice) fed with a high-fat diet were randomly assigned to model group, atorvastatin group (2.6 mg/kg), and low-, medium- and high-dose groups of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction (90, 180, 360 mg/kg), respectively. C57BL/6J mice fed with a standard diet served as the normal control group, with 10 mice per group. The treatment group mice were administered the corresponding drugs intragastrically, once daily, for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured in all groups. Lipid deposition in the aorta (assessed by the percentage of plaque in the entire aorta and aortic root) and morphological changes in the aortic root were observed. Expression levels of CD86 and CD206 in aortic tissue, as well as the protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), arginase-1 (Arg-1), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) in aortic tissues were all detected. RESULTS Cell experiment results showed that, at concentrations of 5-100 μg/mL, the drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction significantly increased RAW264.7 cell viability ( P <0.05). The drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL, along with atorvastatin, significantly reduced apoptosis rates, CD86 fluorescence intensity, and TNF-α and IL-1β levels in RAW264.7 cells, while markedly enhancing CD206 fluorescence intensity ( P <0.05). Animal experiment results showed that, compared with the model group, all dosage groups of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction and the atorvastatin group showed significantly reduced/down-regulated levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum, along with decreased aortic total and root plaque percentages, CD86 expression, and iNOS protein expression. CD206 expression and Arg-1, p-AMPK/AMPK, PPAR-γ protein expression were significantly up-regulated ( P <0.05). Pathological morphology of the aorta showed varying degrees of improvement. CONCLUSIONS The formula of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction exerts its anti-AS effects by regulating macrophage polarization, increasing the proportion of M2 macrophages, thereby effectively inhibiting AS plaque formation and reducing inflammatory responses.
6.Application of new antibiotics in the treatment of drug-resistant bacteria infections after solid organ transplantation
Chunrong JU ; Xiao XU ; Wujun XUE
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(2):182-191
Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is an effective treatment method for various end-stage diseases. However, due to the need for long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection reactions after the surgery, SOT recipients are generally in a state of low immune function, resulting in a significant increase in the risk of infection. Post-transplant infection, especially infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria, is one of the common complications for SOT recipients and is also a major cause of graft dysfunction, graft loss and even death of the recipients. As the global situation of bacterial resistance becomes increasingly severe, the burden of infectious diseases continues to increase, seriously threatening the survival prognosis and graft function of SOT recipients. The exploration of new antibiotic research and rational application strategies worldwide has become crucial. The development and launch of various new antibiotics have provided more options for clinical practice. Therefore, systematically reviewing the drug characteristics of new antibiotics and their application status in this special population of SOT recipients is of great significance for guiding clinical practice and improving patients’ prognosis.
7.Influencing Factors of Urate Crystal Deposition in Patients with Hyperuricemia and Prediction Model of TCM Syndrome Types-inflammatory Indicators
Jiaqi XU ; Bin AI ; Chao LIN ; Qiaoxuan LIN ; Changning LI ; Jing CAI ; Yan XIAO ; Jiemei GUO ; Youxin SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):66-73
ObjectiveTo identify potential influencing factors of urate crystal deposition at ankle/foot in patients with hyperuricemia (HUA), and to analyze the predictive value of inflammatory indicators for urate crystal deposition in patients with different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, so as to provide potential reference for clinical risk assessment and individualized TCM intervention. MethodsA retrospective study was carried out with the enrollment of 231 HUA patients from The Third Affiliated People's Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2021 and December 2024. The enrolled patients were further divided into a crystal deposition-positive group (143 cases) and a crystal deposition-negative group (88 cases) according to the results of dual-energy computed tomography (CT). Sociodemographic data, living habits, serum uric acid levels, and inflammatory indicators of the enrolled patients were collcted, and TCM syndrome differentiation was performed. Furthermore, univariate analysis was used to compare inter-group differences in clinical characteristics. MMultivariate Logistic regression was applied to identify the influencing factors of urate crystal deposition. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive efficacy of inflammatory indicators for crystal deposition across different TCM syndromes. ResultsThere were statistically significant inter-group differences in the proportion of males, age, body mass index, proportion of mental labor, rate of low water intake, and rate of high-sugar beverage consumption (P<0.05),whereas no significant difference in low exercise intensity was found between the two groups. Furthermore, compared with the negative group, the positive group had higher serum uric acid level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), but lower systemic immune-inflammation index (SIRI) (P<0.05). Regarding the distribution of TCM syndromes, the positive group was dominated by the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome (55/143,38.46%), while the negative group was mainly characterized by the phlegm-turbidity obstruction syndrome (44/88,50.00%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that high-sugar beverage consumption, elevated NLR, and elevated PLR were risk factors for urate crystal deposition [odd ratio (OR) = 8.002, 5.377, 1.034, respectively; 95% CI 1.572-40.732, 2.179-13.270, 1.013-1.054,all P<0.05], while SIRI was a protective factor (OR = 0.869, 95% CI 0.778-0.971, P<0.05). In the positive group, patients with the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome exhibited the highest NLR, while the lowest PLR and SIRI, showing statistically significant differences with those of other syndromes (all P<0.05). In addition, ROC curve analysis indicated that for the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome, the combined "NLR + PLR" model had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.901 (95% CI 0.850-0.951, P<0.01), with a sensitivity of 89.1% and a specificity of 79.5%; for the blood stasis-heat obstruction syndrome, the combined "NLR + PLR" model had an AUC of 0.880 (95% CI 0.825-0.934, P<0.01), with a sensitivity of 100.0% and a specificity of 67.3%; for the liver-kidney Yin-deficiency syndrome, the single PLR model had an AUC of 0.842 (95% CI 0.731-0.952, P<0.01), with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 84.0%. ConclusionUrate crystal deposition in HUA patients exhibits intimate associations with high-sugar beverage consumption as well as elevated NLR and PLR levels. Meanwhile, TCM syndrome differentiation has potential correlation with inflammatory characteristics. The inflammatory indicator-based prediction model constructed based on TCM syndromes exhibits good predictive value.
8.Clinical Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Cold Dampness Obstruction Syndrome
Yanyu CHEN ; Yanqi LI ; Longxiao LIU ; Liubo ZHANG ; Tianyi LAN ; Nan ZHANG ; Cheng XIAO ; Yuan XU ; Qingwen TAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):140-146
ObjectiveTo study the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome. MethodsThe RA patients treated in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Rheumatology of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital from August 2022 to June 2024 were selected. The demographic information, clinical data, laboratory test results, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom information were collected for syndrome differentiation, on the basis of which the characteristics and influencing factors of cold dampness obstruction syndrome were analyzed. ResultsA total of 258 RA patients were selected in this study, including 88 (34.1%) patients with cold dampness obstruction syndrome, 53 (20.5%) patients with dampness and heat obstruction syndrome, 31 (12.0%) patients with wind dampness obstruction syndrome, 29 (11.2%) patients with liver-kidney deficiency syndrome, 19 (7.4%) patients with Qi-blood deficiency syndrome, 14 (5.4%) patients with phlegm-stasis obstruction syndrome, 15 (5.8%) patients with stasis obstructing collateral syndrome and 9 (3.5%) patients with Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome. The patients were assigned into two groups of cold dampness obstruction syndrome and other syndromes. The group of cold dampness obstruction syndrome had lower joint fever, 28-tender joint count (TJC28), and 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28)-C-reactive protein (CRP) and higher central sensitization, cold feeling of joints, fear of wind and cold, cold limbs, and abdominal distention than the group of other syndromes (P<0.05). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that central sensitization (OR 5.749, 95%CI 2.116-15.616, P<0.001) and DAS28-CRP (OR 0.600, 95% CI 0.418-0.862, P=0.006) were the independent factors influencing cold dampness obstruction syndrome in RA. ConclusionCold dampness obstruction syndrome is a common syndrome in RA patients. It is associated with central sensitization, cold feeling of joints, abdominal distension and may be a clinical syndrome associated with central sensitization.
9.Effect of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 inhibitor on bone destruction in rats with collagen-induced arthritis
Haihui HAN ; Xiaohui MENG ; Bo XU ; Lei RAN ; Qi SHI ; Lianbo XIAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(5):968-977
BACKGROUND:Preliminary research by our group suggests that targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 1(FGFR1)may be an effective strategy for treating RA. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of an FGFR1 inhibitor(PD173074)on bone destruction in rats with collagen-induced arthritis. METHODS:Twenty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal control group,model group,methotrexate group,low-dose PD173074 group,and high-dose PD173074 group.Except for the normal control group,rat models of type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis were made in each group.After successful modeling,rats were injected intraperitoneally with sterile PBS in the normal and model groups,1.04 mg/kg methotrexate in the methotrexate group,and 5 and 20 mg/kg in the low-dose group and high-dose PD173074 groups,once a week.After 4 weeks of drug administration,clinical symptoms and joint swelling in rats were observed.Micro-CT was used for three-dimensional reconstruction and analysis of the ankle joints.Pathological changes in the ankle joints were observed.Periarticular angiogenesis and the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-Κb ligand were detected.The expression levels of p-FGFR1,vascular endothelial growth factor A,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in the synovial membrane were measured.Pathological changes in the liver,spleen,and kidney were observed and liver,spleen,and kidney indices were calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:PD173074 could alleviate clinical symptoms and joint swelling,delay bone loss,improve bone structure,reduce synovial invasion and cartilage bone erosion,reduce the number of periarticular osteoclasts,inhibit angiogenesis in synovial tissues,reduce the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-Κb ligand,and inhibit the expression of FGFR1 phosphorylated protein,tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and vascular endothelial growth factor A.Pathologic observation of the liver,spleen and kidney in rats showed no obvious toxic side effects after PD173074 treatment.To conclude,the FGFR1 inhibitor can delay the progression of joint inflammation and bone destruction and inhibit angiogenesis in the rat model of type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis.The therapeutic effect of PD173074 has been preliminarily validated in the type Ⅱ collagen-induced arthritis model and may act by inhibiting FGFR1 phosphorylation,which provides a direction for the search of new therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis.
10.Applications of Vaterite in Drug Loading and Controlled Release
Xiao-Hui SONG ; Ming-Yu PAN ; Jian-Feng XU ; Zheng-Yu HUANG ; Qing PAN ; Qing-Ning LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):162-181
Currently, the drug delivery system (DDS) based on nanomaterials has become a hot interdisciplinary research topic. One of the core issues is drug loading and controlled release, in which the key lever is carriers. Vaterite, as an inorganic porous nano-material, is one metastable structure of calcium carbonate, full of micro or nano porous. Recently, vaterite has attracted more and more attention, due to its significant advantages, such as rich resources, easy preparations, low cost, simple loading procedures, good biocompatibility and many other good points. Vaterite, gained from suitable preparation strategies, can not only possess the good drug carrying performance, like high loading capacity and stable loading efficiency, but also improve the drug release ability, showing the better drug delivery effects, such as targeting release, pH sensitive release, photothermal controlled release, magnetic assistant release, optothermal controlled release. At the same time, the vaterite carriers, with good safety itself, can protect proteins, enzymes, or other drugs from degradation or inactivation, help imaging or visualization with loading fluorescent drugs in vitro and in vivo, and play synergistic effects with other therapy approaches, like photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and thermochemotherapy. Latterly, some renewed reports in drug loading and controlled release have led to their widespread applications in diverse fields, from cell level to clinical studies. This review introduces the basic characteristics of vaterite and briefly summarizes its research history, followed by synthesis strategies. We subsequently highlight recent developments in drug loading and controlled release, with an emphasis on the advantages, quantity capacity, and comparations. Furthermore, new opportunities for using vaterite in cell level and animal level are detailed. Finally, the possible problems and development trends are discussed.

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